Starting today I will be writing a DIY Fashion column for Craft magazine that shows how to follow runway trends on the cheap by making them yourself. My first article, DIY Fashion: Reinventing Hosiery, looks at styling hosiery for the summer drawing inspiration from Prada, Burberry, Gossip Girl, etc.. All of my DIY fashions easy and quick so that anyone can make them with any level of sewing skills. After all, so much of fashion relies on stylists.

Diana"

We just love this sort of thing and we love that Diana's doing it. Too often, DIY crafts get a bad rap for being, well... a little tacky and a little precious. And let's face it, it's not exactly unearned. We love the idea of someone trying to inject a little fabulous into it and Diana's just the girl to do that.

"I've always loved wearing unique hosiery. Until just last year, this meant that I was forever chastised by my fellow designers who said "bare-legged is better" and that "hosiery is for grannies and pin-up girls."

But check it out — now hosiery is in! Everywhere I turn, I see colorful hosiery paired with boots, pumps, and peep toes. Hosiery is not just pantyhose: it's tights, stockings, leggings, knee socks, ankle socks, trouser socks, leg warmers, peds — all of the neat leg accessories that are perfect for a girl like me who loves to wear skirts. Sometimes I wear them with shorts too."

Oh, cute! Hosiery is perhaps the most misunderstood, and potentially fraught, fashion accessory.

I agree that there is nothing worse than a pair of 'suntan hose.' Indeed, I knew I had truly 'become a woman' when my mom made me start wearing these to church - no more bare legs for me - so there is probably some onset-of-menarche trauma association for me.

And yes, stockings also associated with pin-up girls, but that's not a bad thing! We could all do with a bit more Bettie Page in our look. Back seams and Cuban heels, yes!

I also like the socks-with-heels look if it's done correctly. Done incorrectly, it can look like a Catholic schoolgirl Halloween costume. But, if the other elements of the outfit are appropriately adult, it's cute and sexy.

Oh lord, those Prada shoes are the very devil. Personally, I loathe socks and dress shoes, but huzzah for gals who work out how to get their look on the cheap. And since I adore Diana, I shall approve the idea while hating the look.

God, I love Diana. Just bought her Fashion Geek for my niece's grade school graduation present (Sara can't decide if she wants to be a vet, an engineer or a fashion designer when she grows up so it's perfect)

Go to Diana's FashionNerd blog & check out the cute photo from her ham radio vacation. Hawt!